Method and apparatus for managing job contention for system resources in an electrographic reproduction system where images are multibanded

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for prioritizing the use of multifunctional printing system&#39;s basic processing resources for multiple banded image processing. The printing system employs a controller with an improved job contention manager (JCM). A plurality of basic resources of the printing system are provided with a queue. One or more job services, at desired times, signals the JCM to transfer a multiple banded image sub-job of a given job. The signal for each of the bands of the sub-job includes information about the respective sub-job&#39;s priority, band number and total band count for the image. Responsive to the signal from the job service the JCM adds a corresponding basic resource sub-job to the queues of each basic resourse which the sub-job will require to perform the sub-job. When the last band of an image has been transferred it is merged into a single image for further processing.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related in subject matter to andcross-referenced with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/450,147,entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A HIGH PRIORITY RESOURCEREQUEST IN A SYSTEM USING A SET OF SHARED RESOURCES, filed by Salgado etal., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/450,150, entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS TO OPTIMIZE TRANSITION OF RESOURCES FROM A LOWER PRIORITY TO AHIGHER PRIORITY JOB, filed by Salgado et al., U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/450,148, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,614,542, entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS TO IMPROVE SYSTEM CONCURRENCY FOR A JOB USING A SET OFCOMMONLY SHARED RESOURCES SUCH THAT A SPECIFIC RESOURCE IS USED ONLY FORA PORTION OF THE JOB, filed by Salgado et al., U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/450,149, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,670, entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS TO ENABLE JOB STREAMING FOR A SET OF COMMONLY SHAREDRESOURCES, filed by Salgado et al., and U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/450,146, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,559, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR MANAGING JOB CONTENTION FOR SYSTEM RESOURCES IN AN ELECTRONICREPROGRAPHIC SYSTEM, filed by Salgado et al., which applications werefiled on the same day as the present Application. The disclosures of theabove-mentioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

This invention relates generally to a multifunctional printing systemwith one or more queues and, more particularly, to a job contentionmanagement architecture which manages the printing system's resourcesamong multiple jobs with improved efficiency.

2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments

Electronic printing systems typically include an input section,sometimes referred to as an input image terminal (“IIT”), a controller,and an output section or print engine, sometimes referred to as an imageoutput terminal (“IOT”). In one type of-electronic printing system,manufactured by Xerox® Corporation, known as the DocuTech® electronicprinting system, a job can be inputted to the printing system from,among other sources, a network or a scanner. An example of a printingsystem with both network and scanner inputs is found in the followingpatent:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,340

Patentees: Prokop et al.

Issued: Dec. 8, 1992

When a scanner is employed to generate the job, image bearing documentsare scanned so that the images therein are converted to image data foruse in making prints. When a network is used to generate the job, astream of data, including various job related instructions and imagedata, expressed in terms of a page description language is captured,decomposed and stored for printing. As is known, a network job can haveits origin in a remote client, such as a workstation, or a print serverwith a storage device. Jobs provided at the IIT may be stored in amemory section, sometimes referred to as “electronic precollationmemory”. An example of electronic precollation memory may be found inthe following patent:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,955

Patentees: Shope et al.

Issued: Sep. 10,1991

U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,955 discloses a system in which input image data ofa job is rasterized and compressed. The compressed, rasterized imagedata is then stored, in collated form, in a job image buffer. Once thejob has been stored in the job image buffer, a selected number of jobcopies can be decompressed and printed without further jobrasterization.

In one area related to electronic printing, namely digital copying, ademand for “multifunctionality” continues to grow. As illustrated by thefollowing patent, a multifunctional digital copier can assume the formof an arrangement in which a single electrostatic processing printer iscoupled with a plurality of different image input devices, with suchdevices being adapted to produce image related information for use bythe printer.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,071

Patentee: Jones

Issued: Jul. 27, 1971

U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,071 discloses that the image related information, inone example, could have its origin in video facsimile signals,microfilm, data processing information, light scanning platens for fullsize documents, aperture cards and microfiche.

The following patents also relate to the area of multifunctional digitalcopying:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,107

Patentees: Naito et al.

Issued: Apr. 11, 1989

U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,892

Patentees: Kita et al.

Issued: Jun. 4, 1991

U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,633

Patentees: Saito et al.

Issued: Dec. 29, 1992

U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,948

Patentees: Sakurai et al.

Issued: Jun. 29, 1993

U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,799

Patentee: Rivshin

Issued: Jan. 4, 1994

U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,458

Patentees: Fr eiburg et al.

Issued: Apr. 26,1994

Multifunctional copying devices are typically adapted to store aplurality of jobs for eventual printing. In one example, jobs areordered for printing in an arrangement referred to as a “print queue”.Xerox Network Systems have employed the concept of the print queue forat least a decade to manage jobs at network printers. Further teachingregarding network printing is provided in the following patent:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,730

Patentee: Hube

Issued: Jul. 25, 1995

The concept of a print queue is integral to the operation of variousdigital reproduction systems. Through appropriate queue management, ajob currently in the process of being printed can be interrupted with aninterrupt job in a manner disclosed by the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,735

Patentees: Gauronski et al.

Issued: Apr. 27, 1993

Referring particularly to the '735 Patent, a special job is obtainedfrom a mass memory, shown by way of a “job file”, and inserted into thequeue at a “logical point” with respect to the job currently beingprocessed. When printing reaches the logical point at which the specialjob was inserted, the job currently being processed is interrupted sothat the special job is processed. Upon completion of the processing ofthe special job, processing of the interrupted job is resumed. The queuedisclosed in the '735 Patent is managed, in the normal case, on afirst-come-first-serve (“FIFO”) basis except when special or interruptjobs are inserted into the queue. In the illustrated embodiment of the'735 Patent, the interrupt job is inserted into the queue as describedabove except when an interrupt job is currently in the process ofprinting. When an interrupt job is currently printing, a secondinterrupt job is placed behind the interrupt job in process.Essentially, priority is given to the interrupt job currently inprocess. The concerns associated with interrupting a first interrupt jobwith a second interrupt job are also addressed in the following patent:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,009

Patentee: Hansen

Issued: Jul. 9, 1996

The queue management arrangement of the '735 Patent is not optimallysuited for use in a multifunctional context because it does notdifferentiate among job types for the purpose of managing the queue.Consequently, a print job cannot, in many common instances, be givenpriority over a copy job, or vice versa. Systems particularly wellsuited for use with a multifunctional printing systems are disclosed bythe following references:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,345

Patentees: Paradise et al.

Issued: Aug. 7, 1990

Japanese Application 58-152821

Published: Aug. 22, 1983

Referring particularly to the '345 Patent, a first queue is used tostore copy and print jobs, while a second queue, communicating with thefirst queue, is used to store facsimile (“fax”) jobs in parallel withthe first queue. After a pre-selected number of one or more fax jobs isstored in the second queue, the stored job(s) is placed in front of thejobs of the first queue so that the one or more fax jobs can be printedahead of the currently queued copy/print jobs. While the queuemanagement scheme of the '345 Patent accommodates for jobdifferentiation, it only does so in a limited manner. For instance, thefax queue can be given preferential treatment relative to the copy/printqueue, so that one or more fax jobs can be printed ahead of a copy orprint jobs. No mechanism for treating a given copy or print jobpreferentially, however, is suggested. Even though U.S. Pat. No.5,511,150 to Beaudet et al. (Issued Apr. 23, 1996) accommodates forpreferential treatment of copy jobs relative to print jobs, it does notdo so in a queue context as discussed in the references above.Additionally, in the approach of the '345 Patent, a copy or print jobcan get “stuck” in the copy/print job queue when multiple fax jobs aregiven preferential processing treatment relative to the copy/print jobs

U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,355

Patentee: Nomura

Issued: May 12, 1992

Referring to the 355 patent, it discloses a printer control system forenabling queue identifiers, which identify different print jobs, to besorted such that those queue identifiers identifying print jobs whichrequire fonts that are already loaded in the print server are placed atthe head of a print list, and those queue identifiers identifying printjobs which require fonts that are not loaded in the print server areplaced at the end of the print list. The print jobs are then processedin the order that the queue identifiers appear on the print list. When aprint job to be processed requires fonts that are not loaded into thesystem a message is displayed on a display unit in order to inform theoperator which fonts need to be loaded into the system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,526

Patentee: Nomura et al.

Issued: Jul. 4, 1994

Referring to the 526 patent it discloses a print job control systemwhich processes print requests to set an order of priority for printingprint jobs. A print job manager checks the print request and determineswhat print option is selected and manipulates the queue identifiersassociated with respective print jobs and enters them into a print queuetable. One feature allows changing the print order thereby overridingthe designated print option. Another feature allows for increasing thepriority of low priority jobs regardless of the designated print optionassuring that the low priority jobs will be printed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,016

Patentee: Kashiwagi et al.

Issued: Dec. 27, 1994

Referring to the 016 patent there is disclosed a control circuit whichreceives advance data representing a predetermined number of copy jobsto be provided from a scanner and data representing a predeterminednumber of print jobs to be provided from external equipment. The controlcircuit causes each of the copy jobs and print jobs on the basis of suchdata to be queued, and the jobs to be processed in a time divisional andparallel manner. Basically, the control circuit gives higher priority tothe copy job. The priority order can be changed according to aninstruction from a user interface. When a current job has beensuspended, the control circuit causes a succeeding job to be processedearlier.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,826

Patentee: Grzenda et al.

Issued: Jul. 13, 1999

Referring to the 826 patent there is disclosed a printing systemcomprising a digital reproduction system communicating with a remotedocument processing station by way of a print server. The printingsystem includes a first queue of first jobs to be executed with thedigital reproduction system maintained at the print server and a secondqueue of second jobs to be executed with the digital reproduction systemmaintained at the digital reproduction system. The printing systemfurther includes a queue process communicating with both the first andsecond queues for forming a composite queue to reflect an order in whichthe first and second jobs of the first queue and the second queues areto be executed with the digital reproduction system. A representation ofthe composite queue is then displayed at a user interface disposed atthe remote document processing station.

U.S. application Ser. No. 09/014,486 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,224

Applicant: Salgado et al.

A method is provided for a multifunctional printing system in which afirst job, developed at a first service, and a second job, developed ata second service are placed in a queue for processing. A first value isassigned to the first job and a second value is assigned to the secondjob, with the first and second values varying in magnitude as a functionof the first and second services. In one example, the first job isplaced in the queue and a portion thereof is processed. Subsequently,the second job is placed in the queue and processing of the first job isinterrupted by the second job if the second value is greater inmagnitude than the first value.

The aforenoted queuing approaches, while well intended for their limitedpurposes, lack the sort of efficient queue management that is requiredto make multifunctional printing systems having shared resources fullyproductive. Multifunction printing system's capabilities and uses areexpanding at an ever-increasing rate. It is desirable to provide amultifunctional printing system that gives improved productivity byutilizing queue management at the capability and resource sub-job levelsin order to maximize the productivity of the system. At the same time,it is desirable to provide a queue management system for amultifunctional printing system facilitating the efficient throughput ofall types of jobs which might be encountered by the multifunctionalprinting system.

The Xerox Corporation Digital Copier Multifunction Systems comprisingthe DC 240 ST and the DC 265 ST include a Job Contention Manager whichprovides queue management at the Basic Job Service level. This approachhas the ability to concurrently process sub-jobs which do not conflictat the basic resource level. For example, a scan sub-job and a marksub-job can be carried out concurrently, however, all the capabilitiesassociated with each basic resource for the sub-job are tied up untilthe sub-job is completed. A more productive approach as in accordancewith this invention releases capabilities to other sub-jobs when theyare not being used or are required by higher priority sub-jobs. This isaccomplished in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this inventionby providing job contention management at the lower level of capabilityjob requests with both capability resource queues and basic resourcequeues.

The disclosure of each patent or application mentioned or discussed inthe above Background is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the presently disclosed invention there is provided amethod and apparatus for prioritizing the use of a multifunctionalprinting system's basic processing resources for handling multiplebanded images. In accordance with a preferred aspect of this invention,the printing system employs a controller with an improved job contentionmanager (JCM).

The process comprises providing each of a plurality of basic resourcesof the printing system with a queue. One or more job services, atdesired times, signals the JCM to transfer a band of a multiple bandedimage sub-job of a given job. The signal for each of the bands includesinformation about the respective sub-job's priority, the band number andthe total band count for the image. Responsive to the signal from thejob service the JCM adds a corresponding basic resource sub-job to thequeues of each basic resource which the sub-job will require to performthe sub-job. Each respective sub-job is ready for processing, when it isfirst in line in all the queues of all the basic resources required toperform the sub-job. When the last band of the image has beentransferred the bands are merged into a single image.

In accordance with another preferred alternative of the presentinvention there is provided a method of managing the processing of aplurality of jobs in a multifunctional printing system in which at leastone multiple banded image job is inputted for processing at one or morejob services. The process comprises providing a controller with a jobcontention manager (JCM) for prioritizing the printing system's basicprocessing resources. A plurality of capability job resources areprovided for carrying out the one or more job services. A plurality ofbasic job resources of the printing system are also provided. Eachcapability job resource contains a list of the basic job resources itneeds to carry out its capability and each basic job resource contains alist of the capability job resources that depend upon it. A job queue isprovided for each capability job resource and each basic job resource.

At least one job service, at a desired time, signals the JCM to transfera band of a multiple banded image sub-job. The signal for each of saidbands includes information about the respective sub-job's priority, bandnumber and the total band count. Responsive to such a signal the JCMcreates a capability sub-job containing the information and adds thecapability sub-job, based on priority, to the queue of the respectivecapability job resource. Responsive thereto, the JCM adds, based onpriority, a basic resource sub-job to the queues of each basic jobresource which the capability sub-job will require. The JCM determineswhether a respective sub-job is first in line in all the queues of allthe basic job resources required by its respective capability jobresource; and upon the JCM determining that the respective sub-job isfirst in line, it allows the sub-job to be carried out. When the lastband of the image has been transferred the bands are merged into asingle image.

An apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment, is provided forprioritizing the use of multifunctional printing system's basicprocessing resources for multiple banded images. The apparatus employs acontroller with a job contention manager (JCM). The apparatus includes:means for providing a plurality of basic resources of the printingsystem with each such resource having a queue; signal means, for one ormore job services, at desired times, to signal the JCM to transfer aband of a multiple banded image sub-job of a given job, the signal foreach of the bands including information about the respective sub-job'spriority, the band number and the total band count for the image; meansresponsive to said signal means for adding a corresponding basicresource sub-job to the queues of each basic resource which the sub-jobwill require to perform the sub-job; means for determining when arespective sub-job is first in line in all the queues of all the basicresources required to perform the respective sub-job; means responsiveto the determining means for carrying out the band image transfersub-job when the band image sub-job is first in line in all of the basicresource queues and means for determining when the last band of an imagehas been transferred and responsive thereto merging the image bands intoa single image.

An alternative apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthis invention is provided for managing the processing of a plurality ofjobs in a multifunctional printing system in which at least one multiplebanded image job is inputted for processing at one or more job services.The apparatus includes a controller with a job contention manager (JCM)for prioritizing the printing system's basic processing resources. Theapparatus comprises: a database which is associated with the JCM. Thedatabase includes a plurality of capability job resources for carryingout the one or more job services and a plurality of basic job resourcesof the printing system, with each capability job resource containing alist of the basic job resources it needs to carry out its capability andeach basic job resource containing a list of the capability jobresources that depend upon it. The database includes a sub-job queue foreach capability resource and each basic resource. Signal means areprovided, for permitting each respective job service, at a desired time,to signal the JCM to transfer at least one of said bands of a multiplebanded image sub-job, with the signal for each of the bands includinginformation about the respective sub-job's priority the band number andthe total band count.

The apparatus further includes means responsive to the signaling means,for creating in the database a capability sub-job containing theinformation and adding the capability sub-job, based on priority, to thequeue of the respective capability job resource. Means are providedresponsive to the capability sub-job creating means for adding, based onpriority, the sub-job to the queues of each basic job resource, whichthe capability sub-job will require. Means are included for determiningwhen a respective sub-job is in an active state, ready for processing.Also included are means for carrying out the sub job responsive to thedetermining means, determining that a sub-job is in an active state.Means are also provided for determining when the last band of an imagehas been transferred and responsive thereto merging the bands into asingle image.

The process and apparatus include the ability to transfer resources fromthe multiple banded image sub-job to a higher priority sub-job if theband which is to be transferred is the first band of the multiple bandedimage.

The prioritization approach used by the JCM in the process and apparatusof this invention can be FIFO or a combination of FIFO and job basedpriority as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a networked digital copier suitable forreceiving a job developed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a multifunctional, network adaptiveprinting machine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a video control module for the printingmachine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a transfer module used in conjunction withthe printing machine of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a facsimile card used in conjunction withthe video control module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a network controller for the printingmachine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a queue used to store jobs pursuant toprocessing thereof;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the signal interaction between theBasic Job Service (BJS) and the JCM.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 comprise a schematic flow diagram depicting themanner in which jobs progress in a FIFO priority approach as a functionof a preferred aspect of a contention management scheme embodied in thepresent invention.

FIGS. 12, 13, 14A, and 14B comprise a schematic flow diagram depictingthe manner in which jobs progress in a job based priority approach as afunction of another preferred aspect of a contention management schemeembodied in the present invention.

FIG. 15 comprises a schematic diagram depicting the manner in whichVideo resources process a multiple banded image.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention will hereinafter be described in connectionwith a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it isnot intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary,it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalentsas may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a digital copiersystem of a known type suitable for use with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention. As shown, the system includes a document feeder 1 and anoperation (and display) panel 2. After desired conditions have beenentered on the operation panel 2, the document feeder 1 conveys adocument to a predetermined reading position on an image reading device3 and, after the document has been read, drives it away from the readingposition. The image reading device 3 illuminates the document brought tothe reading position thereof. The resulting reflection from the documentis transformed to a corresponding electric signal, or image signal, by asolid state imaging device, e.g., a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imagesensor. An image forming device 4 forms an image represented by theimage signal on a plain paper or a thermosensitive paper by anelectrophotographic, thermosensitive, heat transfer, ink jet or similarconventional system.

As a paper is fed from any one of paper cassettes 7 to the image onforming device 4, the device 4 forms an image on one side of the paper.A duplex copy unit 5 is constructed to turn over the paper carrying theimage on one side thereof and again feed it to the image forming device4. As a result, an image is formed on the other side of the paper tocomplete a duplex copy. The duplex copy unit 5 has customarily beendesigned to refeed the paper immediately or to sequentially refeed aplurality of papers stacked one upon the other, from the bottom paper tothe top paper. The papers, or duplex copies, driven out of the imageforming device 4 are sequentially sorted by a output device 6 in orderof page or page by page.

Applications, generally 8, share the document feeder 1, operation panelimage reading device 3, image forming device 4, duplex unit 5, outputdevice 6, and paper cassettes 7 which are the resources built in thecopier system. As will appear, the applications include a copierapplication, a printer (IOT) application, a facsimile (Fax) applicationand other applications. Additionally, the digital copier system iscoupled with a network by way of a conventional network connection 9.

Referring to FIG. 2, a multifunctional, network adaptive printing systemis designated by the numeral 10. The printing system 10 includes aprinting machine 12 operatively coupled with a network service module14. The printing machine 12 includes an electronic subsystem 16,referred to as a video control module (VCM), communicating with ascanner 18 and a printer 20. In one example, the VCM 16, which will bedescribed in further detail below, coordinates the operation of thescanner and printer in a digital copying arrangement. In a digitalcopying arrangement, the scanner 18 (also referred to as image inputterminal (IIT)) reads an image on an original document by using a CCDfull width array and converts analog video signals, as gathered, intodigital signals. In turn, an image processing system (IP) 22 (FIG. 3),associated with the scanner 18, executes signal correction and the like,converts the corrected signals into multi-level signals (e.g. binarysignals), compresses the multi-level signals and preferably stores thesame in electronic precollation (EPC) memory 24.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the printer 20 (also referred to as imageoutput terminal (IOT)) preferably includes a xerographic print engine.In one example, the print engine has a multi-pitch belt (not shown)which is written on with an imaging source, such as a synchronous source(e.g. laser raster output scanning device) or an asynchronous source(e.g. LED print bar). In a printing context, the multi-level image datais read out of the EPC memory 24 (FIG. 3) while the imaging source isturned on and off, in accordance with the image data, forming a latentimage on the photoreceptor. In turn, the latent image is developed with,for example, a hybrid jumping development technique and transferred to aprint media sheet. Upon fusing the resulting print, it may be invertedfor duplexing or simply outputted. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that the printer can assume other forms besides axerographic print engine without altering the concept upon which thedisclosed embodiment is based. For example, the printing system 10 couldbe implemented with a thermal ink jet or ionographic printer.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the VCM 16 is discussed in furtherdetail. The VCM 16 includes a video bus (VBus) 28 with which variousI/O, data transfer and storage components communicate. Preferably, theVBus is a high speed, 32 bit data burst transfer bus which is expandableto 64 bit. The 32 bit implementation has a sustainable maximum bandwidthof approximately 60 MBytes/sec. In one example, the bandwidth of theVBus is as high as 100 Mbytes/sec.

The storage components of the VCM reside in the EPC memory section 30and the mass memory section 32. The EPC memory section includes the EPCmemory 24, the EPC memory being coupled with the VBus by way of a DRAMcontroller 33. The EPC memory, which is preferably DRAM, providesexpansion of up to 64 MBytes, by way of two high density 32 bit SIMMmodules, however, any desired amount of memory could be employed. Themass memory section 32 includes a SCSI hard drive device 34 coupled tothe VBus by way of a transfer module 36 a. As will appear, other I/O andprocessing components are coupled respectively to the VBus by way oftransfer modules 36. It will be appreciated that other devices (e.g. aworkstation) could be coupled to the VBus by way of the transfer module36 a through use of a suitable interface and a SCSI line.

Referring to FIG. 4, the structure of one of the transfer modules 36 isdiscussed in further detail. The illustrated transfer module of FIG. 4includes a packet buffer 38, a VBus interface 40 and DMA transfer unit42 . The transfer module 36, which was designed with “VHSIC” HardwareDescription Language (VHDL), is a programmable arrangement permittingpackets of image data to be transmitted along the VBus at a relativelyhigh transfer rate. In particular, the packet buffer is programmable sothat the segment or packet can be varied according to the availablebandwidth of the VBus. In one example, the packet buffer can beprogrammed to handle packets of up to 64 Bytes Preferably, the packetsize would be reduced for times when the VBus is relatively busy andincreased for times when activity on the bus is relatively low.

Adjustment of the packet size is achieved with the VBus interface 40(FIG. 4) and a system controller 44 (FIG. 6). Essentially, the VBusinterface is an arrangement of logical components, including, amongothers, address counters, decoders and state machines, which providesthe transfer module with a selected degree of intelligence. Theinterface 40 communicates with the system controller to keep track ofdesired packet size and, in turn, this knowledge is used to adjust thepacket size of the packet buffer 38, in accordance with bus conditions.That is, the controller, in view of its knowledge regarding conditionson the VBus 28, passes directives to the interface 40 so that theinterface can adjust packet size accordingly. Further discussionregarding operation of the transfer module 36 is provided below.

More particularly, image transfer is facilitated with a DMA transferunit which employs a conventional DMA transfer strategy to transfer thepackets. In other words, the beginning and end addresses of the packetare used by the transfer unit in implementing a given transfer. When atransfer is complete, the interface 40 transmits a signal back to thesystem controller 44 so that further information, such as desired packetsize and address designations, can be obtained.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, three I/O components are shown as beingcoupled operatively to the VBus 28, namely a FAX module 48, the scanneror IIT 18, and the printer or IOT 20; however, it should be recognizedthat a wide variety of components could be coupled to the VBus by way anexpansion slot 50. Referring to FIG. 5 an implementation for the FAXmodule, which is coupled to the VBus 28 by way of transfer module 36 b,is discussed in further detail. In the preferred embodiment, a facsimiledevice (FAX) 51 includes a chain of components, namely a section 52 forperforming Xerox adaptive compression/decompression, a section 54 forscaling compressed image data, a section 56 for converting compressedimage data to or from CCITT format, and a modem 58, preferablymanufactured by Rockwell Corporation, for transmitting CCITT formatteddata from or to a telephone, by way of a conventional communicationline.

Referring still to FIG. 5, each of the sections 52, 54 and 56 as well asmodem 58 are coupled with the transfer module 36 b by way of a controlline 60. This permits transfers to be made to and from the FAX module 48without involving a processor. As should be understood, the transfermodule 36 b can serve as a master or slave for the FAX module in thatthe transfer module can provide image data to the FAX for purposes oftransmission or receive an incoming FAX. In operation, the transfermodule 36 b reacts to the FAX module in the same manner that it wouldreact to any other I/O component. For example, to transmit a FAX job,the transfer module 36 b feeds packets to the section 52 through use ofthe DMA transfer unit 42 and, once a packet is fed, the transfer moduletransmits an interrupt signal to the system processor 44 requestinganother packet. In one embodiment, two packets are maintained in thepacket buffer 38 so that “ping-ponging” can occur between the twopackets. In this way, the transfer module 36 b does not run out of imagedata even when the controller cannot get back to it immediately uponreceiving an interrupt signal.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the IIT 18 and IOT 20 are operatively coupledto the VBus 28 by way of transfer modules 36 c and 36 d. Additionally,the IIT 18 and the IOT 20 are operatively coupled with a compressor 62and a decompressor 64, respectively. The compressor and decompressor arepreferably provided by way of a single module that employs Xeroxadaptive compression devices. Xerox adaptive compression devices havebeen used for compression/decompression operations by Xerox Corporationin its DocuTech® printing system. In practice, at least some of thefunctionality of the transfer modules is provided by way of a 3 channelDVMA device, which device provides local arbitration for thecompression/decompression module. As further illustrated by FIG. 3, thescanner 18, which includes the image processing section 22, is coupledwith an annotate/merge module 66. Preferably, the image processingsection includes one or more dedicated processors programmed to performvarious desired functions, such as image enhancement,thresholding/screening, rotation, resolution conversion and TRCadjustment. Thresholding and screening are common imaging functionsrelating to the concept of applying an image screen to improve thequality of the image. The selective activation of each of thesefunctions can be coordinated by a group of image processing controlregisters, the registers being programmed by the system controller 44.Preferably, the functions are arranged along a “pipeline” in which imagedata is inputted to one end of the pipe, and image processed image datais outputted at the other end of the pipe. To facilitate throughput,transfer module 36 e is positioned at one end of the image processingsection 22 and transfer module 36 c is positioned at another end of thesection 22. As will appear, positioning of transfer modules 36 c and 36e in this manner greatly facilitates the concurrency of a loopbackprocess.

Referring still to FIG. 3, arbitration of the various bus masters of theVCM 16 is implemented by way of a VBus arbiter 70 disposed in a VBusarbiter/bus gateway 71. The arbiter determines which bus master (e.g.FAX module, Scanner, Printer, SCSI Hard Drive, EPC Memory or NetworkService Component) can access the VBus at one given time. The arbiter ismade up of two main sections and a third control section. The firstsection, i.e., the “Hi-Pass” section, receives input bus requests andcurrent priority selection, and outputs a grant corresponding to thehighest priority request pending. The current priority selection inputis the output from the second section of the arbiter and is referred toas “Priority Select”. This section implements priority rotation andselection algorithm. At any given moment, the output of the logic forpriority select determines the order in which pending requests will beserviced. The input to Priority Select is a register which holds aninitial placement of devices on a priority chain. On servicing requests,this logic moves the devices up and down the priority chain therebyselecting the position of a device's next request. Control logicsynchronizes the tasks of the Hi-Pass and the Priority Select bymonitoring signals regarding request/grant activity. It also preventsthe possibility of race conditions.

Referring to FIG. 6, the network service module 14 is discussed infurther detail. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, thearchitecture of the network service module is similar to that of a known“PC clone”. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment, thecontroller 44, which preferably assumes the form of a SPARC processor,manufactured by Sun Microsystems, Inc., is coupled with a standard SBus72. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, a host memory 74, whichpreferably assumes the form of DRAM, and a SCSI disk drive device 76 arecoupled operatively to the SBus 72. While not shown in FIG. 6, a storageor I/O device could be coupled with the SBus with a suitable interfacechip. As further shown in FIG. 6, the SBus is coupled with a network 78by way of an appropriate network interface 80. In one example, thenetwork interface includes all of the hardware and software necessary torelate the hardware/software components of the controller 44 with thehardware/software components of the network 78. For instance, tointerface various protocols between the network service module 14 andthe network 78, the network interface could be provided with, amongother software, Netware® from Novell Corp.

In one example, the network 78 includes a client, such as a workstation82 with an emitter or driver 84. In operation, a user may generate a jobincluding a plurality of electronic pages and a set of processinginstructions. In turn, the job is converted, with the emitter, into arepresentation written in a page description language, such asPostScript. The job is then transmitted to the controller 44 where it isinterpreted with a decomposer, such as one provided by AdobeCorporation. Some of the principles underlying the concept ofinterpreting a PDL job are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,634 to Bonket al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,112 to Mensing et al., the disclosures ofboth references being incorporated herein by reference. Further detailsregarding a technique for generating a job in a PDL may be obtained byreference to the following text, the pertinent portions of which areincorporated herein by reference:

PostScript® Language Reference Manual

Second Edition

Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.

1990

Referring again to FIG. 3, the network service module 14 is coupled withthe VCM 16 via a bus gateway 88 of the VBus arbiter/bus gateway 71. Inone example, the bus gateway comprises a field programmable gate arrayprovided by XILINX corporation. The bus gateway device provides theinterface between the host SBus and the VCM VBus. It provides VBusaddress translation for accesses to address spaces in the VBus realaddress range, and passes a virtual address to the host SBus for virtualaddresses in the host address range. A DMA channel for memory to memorytransfers is also implemented in the bus gateway. Among other things,the bus gateway provides seamless access between the VBus and SBus, anddecodes virtual addresses from bus masters, such as one of the transfermodules 36, so that an identifier can be obtained from a correspondingslave component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatmany components of the printing system 10 are implemented in the form ofa single ASIC.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, further discussion regarding DMA transferof each of the transfer modules 36 is provided. In particular, in oneexample, the images of a job are stored in the host memory 74 as aseries of blocks. Preferably, each block comprises a plurality ofpackets. In operation, one of the transfer modules 36 is provided, bythe controller 44, with the beginning address of a block and the size ofthe block. In turn, for that block, the transfer module 36 effects apacket transfer and increments/decrements a counter. This procedure isrepeated for each packet of the block until the interface 40 determines,by reference to the counter, that the last packet of the block has beentransferred. Typically, for each stored image, several blocks aretransferred, in a packet-by-packet manner, as described immediatelyabove.

As previously noted the Xerox Corporation Digital Copier MultifunctionSystems comprising the DC 240 ST and the DC 265 ST include a JobContention Manager which provides queue management at the External orBasic Job Service levels. Referring to FIG. 7, those systems include aqueue of jobs 200 ready for processing with the printer 20 as shown inFIG. 1. As with other conventional print queues, the job currently beingprinted is displayed in a window 202 and buttons 204 can be employed toscroll the list of jobs up or down. It should be appreciated that in amultifunctional machine of the this type and those discussed in theBackground above, more than one queue is employed to accommodate for thevarious Basic Job Services offered. For example, jobs waiting to bescanned would reside in a scan queue while jobs waiting to be faxedwould reside in a fax queue. Essentially the print or mark queue of FIG.7 may be just one of the plurality of Basic Job Service queues employedin a multifunction printing system. Additionally, it should beappreciated that jobs may be inserted into the queues in a mannerconsistent with that disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,735. Finally, itwill be appreciated that the queues could be maintained in, among otherlocations, the VCM of FIG. 3 or the Network Service Module of FIG. 6.

In any multifunctional product (also referred to below as “MF Engine”)such as the printing system 10 described above, there is always thepotential of multiple users requiring access to one or more subsystemsat the same time. This access contention can occur in several areas ofthe MF Engine, either as contention for a single resource e.g., EPCmemory 24 (FIG. 3), or as a contention for multiple kinds of resourcese.g., EPC memory and IIT. When a contention situation arises, theprinting system must respond in a predictable, and controlled mannerthat satisfies the various users.

In t he Xerox DC 240 ST and the DC 265 ST Multifunction Systems, atleast two contention management methods are contemplated, as more fullydescribed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/014,486 now U.S. Pat. No.5,970,224 to Salgado et al., which is incorporated by reference herein,(hereinafter the “Salgado Application”).

1. First In First Out (FIFO) Job Management.

In this method contention is handled on a first come first serve basis.Jobs submitted ahead of other jobs have first use of the required BasicJob Service. Other jobs requesting that service are numerically orderedby their time of arrival and eventually have the opportunity to use theservice.

2. Prioritized Job Management

In this method access to resources is managed with a “KeyOperator/System Administrator (“KO/SA”) defined algorithm. With thisalgorithm, the KO/SA can arrange to have jobs defined according to jobtype, immediate walkup need, history of interruptions and other relevantfactors. The algorithm can be configured to manage job contention inaccordance with the desires of a typical printing system user. Since itis flexibly programmable, the algorithm can be made to accommodate forFIFO. In other words, FIFO is a subset of the capabilities of thisalgorithm.

The Salgado Application discloses at least five job types that arehandled by the KO/SA priority algorithm:

1. Copy Print or Walk-Up Jobs: Walk up user jobs requiring the use ofthe IIT and the corresponding marking resource;

2. Auto Report Print: Reports that are automatically printed, such asreports of machine or copier use, error logs, fax reports, etc. Thereports, which are defined by the SA/KO, are printed from memoryresources and require marking engine usage;

3. Net Print: Included in this job category are the following:

a) Jobs arriving from network sources, via the network service module 14(FIG. 1), which require marking resource,

b) Network service module (also referred to as “ESS”) soft mailbox jobsactivated by a walk-up or remote user, and

c) Any other jobs originating from the ESS or network;

4. Fax Mailbox: Included in this job category are the following:

a) Fax receives which have been stored on the system for printout at auser's request,

b) Local reports such as system usage or fax logs, and

c) Any other jobs originating from the EPC memory 24 (FIG. 3) or theprinting system (also referred to as “MFSYS”);

5. Fax Print: Incoming Fax jobs that are meant to be printedimmediately. Such jobs are captured in EPC memory 24 and then printedimmediately.

The approach of the Salgado Application provides a system job whichcorresponds to a work request made by a user. The user's work request ismade at the MF Engine's user interface or External Job Service (EJS).For example, a copy job corresponds to a user's request to perform acopy operation. Each EJS job breaks down into multiple sub-jobs. Eachsub-job corresponds to the work responsible for a basic job operationwhich is processed by a Basic Job Service (BJS). Copy jobs break downinto scan, image processing, and mark sub-jobs.

Processing a job by a Basic Job Service requires use of video 111hardware. Video 111 hardware includes the compressor, decompressor, ips1board, input channel, output channel, and loopback channel. Multiplesub-jobs can require the use of the same video 111 hardware. The JobContention Manager of the Salgado Application manages the use of thevideo 111 hardware and which sub-job acquires the hardware when acontention decision is required at the level of the Basic Job Service,based on the priority schemes noted above.

The following terminology should be useful in obtaining a more completeunderstanding of the present description:

Authorized User: a user having a higher authority level than a casualuser, but access rights less than that of a KO/SA. This is a reservedauthority level intended for VIP Users.

Job Priority: A priority assigned according to job or user type. Anexemplary priority scheme, based on job type, is provided in the SalgadoApplication .

Resource: Any mechanical, electronic or software component required toprocess a job or sub-job.

Marking Resource: The resource used to print a job on a given mediatype.

Memory Resource: Types of Read/Write memory used by the printing system,e.g. memories 24, 34 (FIG. 3), 74 and 76 (FIG. 6).

Marked Job: A job which has been printed. This term is more generic than“printed job” and does not imply a particular method used for writing tothe type of media.

Next to Print: This is the nomenclature for a job which is at the top ofthe queue of jobs and under stable/normal conditions, will be the “nextto print” from the queue.

Decompressor: Video 111 hardware that decompresses a compressed imageback to its “raw” data.

Compressor: Video 111 hardware that compresses an image based on aconventional compression algorithm.

Loopback Channel: A video channel used for physically transferring imagedata.

ips1: Physical component that performs a number of imaging functionssuch as reduction, enlargement, lighter, darker, and contrast.

This invention embodies many of the elements disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/450,146 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,559 to Salgadoet al., entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING JOB CONTENTION FORSYSTEM RESOURCES IN AN ELECTRONIC REPROGRAPHIC SYSTEM, filed of evendate herewith, (“Salgado 66 Application”) and those elements areincluded hereafter in an effort to more clearly describe the variousembodiments of this invention. This invention proposes an expansion ofthe method and apparatus described in the Salgado 66 Application toenable a job service to handle video resource requests for multiplebanded images.

Many multifunction printing systems do not include sufficient memory totransfer a complete image to video 111 for processing and therefore theytransfer such images in multiple image bands which the video resourcesthen merge into a single image. This invention preferably enables thetransfer of resources for such multiple banded images, based on imageboundaries, thereby guaranteeing image integrity. This inventionpreferably enables resource requests for individual image bands andprovides for the reception and merging of a multiple banded image into asingle image. The invention has the flexibility to handle images ofvarying band counts.

In accordance with this invention an improved method and apparatus formanaging contention for a system's resources among multiple sub-jobs isprovided which is capable of handling multiple banded images. Inaccordance with preferred embodiments of this invention it is alsopossible to do one or more of the following: 1) process multiple sub-jobrequests for resources, 2) provide concurrent job processing when acontention condition does not exit, 3) assign basic resources to asub-job based on its priority, 4) suspend a sub-job's use of resourcesin favor of a higher priority job, 5) transfer resources from a lowerpriority sub-job to a higher priority sub-job, 6) provide quickprocessing of BJS' video resource request for each image, and 7) expandfor additional video resources and video capabilities.

Referring to FIG. 8, the Job Contention Manager (JCM) 112 of thisinvention controls the allocation of resources at the level of the basicresources. As shown in FIG. 8 it tracks and assigns video resourcerequests received by the JCM 112 from the BJS 110. The requests betweenthe JCM 112 and the BJS 110 use a Propose/Accept/No Accept protocol.Table 1 provides examples of typical External Job Services and the BJSsub-jobs which they entail for an exemplary Multifunction Printer (MFP).It is within the scope of this invention to provide additional EJS andBJS 110 services as may be desired and Table 1 is provided only by wayof Example.

TABLE 1 JOB SERVICES EXTER- TEST NAL JOB RE- PAT- SER- FAX FAX PORT TERNVICES COPY PRINT PRINT FILE OUT PRINT PRINT BASIC Scan ESS ESS Scan ScanReport Internal JOB Input Input Gener- Image SER- ator Gener- VICES ator±IP Mark Mark ±IP ±IP Mark Mark Mark ESS ESS Out- Out- put put

The Basic Job Service (BJS) breaks up the External Job Service requestinto a series of sub-job requests as shown in Table 1. As shown in FIG.8, in accordance with this invention, for each sub-job the BJS 110 callsupon the Job Contention Manager (JCM) 112 with a “Propose” for videoresources. The JCM provides a set of video capabilities or CapabilityResources (CR) for use by the BJS as exemplified by Tables 2a and 2b.Each CR uses a specific set of video 111 hardware or Basic Resources(BR).

TABLE 2a VIDEO CAPABILITIES CAPA- BILITY SCAN MARK RE- PRE- COM- IPDECOM- SOURCES SCAN PRESSED ANNOTATE PRESSED BASIC Loopback Com- InputChannel Output Channel RE- Channel pressor SOURCES IPS1 Input LoopbackDecompressor Channel Channel Output Channel Compressor Decompressor

TABLE 2b CAPABILITY RESOURCES ESS INPUT REPORT IN- CAPABILITY NONRESCON-ESS GENERA- TERNAL RESOURCES VERSIONS OUTPUT TOR IMAGE BASIC LoopbackOutput De- IPS1 RESOURCES Channel Channel Compressor Compressor OutputInput Channel Channel

Tables 2a and 2b provide examples of typical Capability Resources (CR)and the Basic Resources (BR) or video resources which they utilize in anexemplary Multifunction Printer (MFP). It is within the scope of thisinvention to provide additional CRs and BRs as may be desired and Tables2a and 2b are provided only by way of Example. By way of example, asshown in Tables 2a and 2b the Scan capability (CR) uses the compressorand the input channel Basic Resources and the ESS Input capability (CR)uses the loopback channel and compressor BRs.

The basic architecture of the system for carrying out the method of thisinvention for managing contention for a system's resources amongmultiple sub-jobs and how those resources are shared will now bedescribed in detail by reference to FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11. The flowdiagrams shown in these Figures comprise a first preferred embodiment ofthe invention which uses a simple First In/First Out (FIFO)prioritization scheme.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the Basic Job Service 110 is ready to processa sub-job, it sends an image “Propose” as described above, for eachimage it needs to process, to the Job Contention Manager 112. The JobContention Manager 112 maintains at least a two-level interconnecteddatabase 113. The first level 114 corresponds to the CapabilityResources (CR). The second level 115 corresponds to the Basic Resources(BR) which are essentially the video resources (Video 111). The database113 may have any desired number of levels and the two level database isdescribed by way of example. Each Capability Resource in the database114 contains a list of the Basic Resources it needs. Correspondingly,each Basic Resource in the database 115 maintains a list of the CRs thatdepend upon it. This interconnected database is created on system powerup.

The Job Contention Manager 112 also owns the system's contentionalgorithm (settable by SA/KO) which in a preferred embodiment isessentially similar to the algorithm proposed in the SalgadoApplication, which is incorporated by reference herein, however, it maybe any desired contention algorithm as determined by the SA/KO. In theSalgado Application the contention algorithm is FIFO or job servicepriority based or a combination of both. When a job is created, the jobcontains priority ordering data elements including priority, submissiontime, and last modification time.

When a Basic Job Service 110 is ready to process a sub-job, the BJS 110calls or signals the JCM 112 with an image “Propose” request as in FIG.8 for each image it needs to process. The “Propose” request preferablyincludes the job identifier, its priority information, the videocapability required, and the requesting BJS identification. For example,the Scan BJS needs to scan a copy job (id: 3-1) form the DADH (documenthandler). For each image the scanner needs to input, the Scan BJS 110calls the JCM 112 with a “Propose” (e.g. BJS service: Scan, job: 3-1,job priority: XXX, capability: ScanCompressed, . . . )

Referring now to FIG. 9 a simplified FIFO only version of a JobContention Manager (JCM) 112 for managing contention for a system'sresources among multiple sub-jobs is described to help in understandingthe above contention concept. On the first request from a BJS 110 for asub-job, the element 116 determines that the sub-job is not in acapability job service queue in the database 114 and signals element 118to that effect. The JCM 112 then creates a Capability Job Resource (CJR)containing the above data. Element 118 adds the CJR to the CR's job listor queue in the database 114. The JCM 112 then walks or scans throughthe list of basic resources (the capability to basic resources mappingis determined by reading a table defining these mappings, see Table 2aand 2b), required for the CR, for each basic resource the CR needs. Thisis accomplished by cycling through elements 120, 122 and 124. Thecapability to basic resources mapping is determined by reading a tabledefining these mappings. For each basic resource the CR needs asdetermined by element 120 a Basic Job Resource (BJR) is created andadded to each basic resource's job list or queue in database 115 byelement 122.

For a specific sub-job request, the set of data common to the CapabilityJob Resource (CJR) and Basic Job Resource (BJR) is termed a jobresource. A resource's job list is the list or queue of requestingsub-jobs needing the capability or basic resource. When a BJR is addedto a basic resource's queue, the BJR is placed in a position based onjob priority. The top of the queue is the highest priority job with eachsubsequent job having a decreasing priority. The priority of the sub-jobmay be preferably determined as in the Salgado Application, namely FIFOor job based priority or a combination thereof, however, it may bedetermined in accordance with any desired conventional prioritizingapproach. For this exemplary embodiment it is FIFO based.

For each added BJR, the JCM 112 determines the state of the Basic JobResource. If the BJR is the highest priority job within the basicresource's job list (top of the queue), the state is “bjsActive” if noother “bjsActive” BJR is in the list. If there is another “bjsActive”BJR, then the added Basic Job Resource's state is “bjsAcquiring”. If theadded Basic Job Resource is not at the top of the queue, then the stateis “bjsQueued”.

At this point, the JCM 112 needs to determine the overall state of theBJS' “Propose” request (in this invention, it is the state of the CJR).If all its component BJR's are “bjsActive” as determined by element 126then element 128 sets all BJR's states to “bjsActive. Element 130 thensets the CJR's state to “cjsActive”. The JCM 112 at 132 then forwardsthe BJS Propose to the component basic services (Video 111) forprocessing. Video 111 (see FIG. 8) processes the request as normal andsends an Accept 135 to the BJS via the JCM.

If the BJS' component BJRs have a combination of “bjsActive” and“bjsAcquiring” states, the CJR's state is “cjsAcquiring”. Otherwise, theCJR's state is “cjsQueued”. The JCM 112 then updates all of the CJR'srespective BJRs to reflect the overall state. In other words, if theCapability Job Resource's (CJR's) state is “cjsQueued”, all componentBasic Job Resource's (BJR's) states are set to “bjsQueued”. If theelement 126 determines that the CJR has not acquired all the BJR's itneeds since its state is “cjsAcquiring” or cjsQueued” then element 136of the JCM 112 sends a “NoAccept” to the BJS 110. In this case, the BJS110 has not acquired all the video 111 (basic) resources necessary forsub-job processing. The BJS 110 then proposes again at a future timebased on an internal timer (not shown).

Once, the BJS 110 “Proposes” for a sub-job, the JCM 112 tracks the BJS'sub-job request using its corresponding capability and Basic JobResources (CJRs and BJRs) in the databases 114 and 115. For allsubsequent Proposes from the BJS 110 for this sub-job, the JCM 112 usesthe corresponding CJR's state to determine acceptance (Accept) orrejection.(NoAccept). In this case the JCM 112 determines at element 116that the sub-job is already in a queue (capability job list). If thesub-job is in the capability queue the JCM 112 then determines atelement 138 if the capability's job state is “cjsActive”. If it is, thenthe JCM 112 forwards the BJS Propose to the component basic services(Video 111) for processing. Video 111 processes the request as normaland sends an Accept to the BJS 110 via the JCM 112.

If the job state of the sub-job is not “cjsActive” as determined byelement 138 then the JCM 112 determines at element 604 if it is“cjsAcquiring” or “cjsQueued”. If it is “cjsAcquiring” or “cjsQueued”then the JCM 112 element 606 returns a “NoAccept” to the BJS 110, whichproposes again at a future time based on an internal timer (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11 the portion of the Job ContentionManager 112 associated with deleting a sub-job is shown. If the operatorof the Multi Function Printer wishes to delete a job, he or she enterthe delete or abort command at the External Job Service. The abortsignal is fed to element 600 of the JCM 112 to determine if job is in acapability queue of the database 114. If it is not then element 602causes the inquiry to terminate by exiting the JCM 112.

On the other hand if the aborting job is in the CR job queue thenelement 604 removes it from the Capability Resource job queue in thedatabase 114. Element 606 then searches for each Basic Job Resourcewhich was needed by the aborting CJR. The JCM 112 then walks througheach such BR and removes the aborting sub-job from each respective BRjob queue. This is accomplished by elements 148 through 158 of the JCM112. Element 148 removes the aborting sub-job from each succeeding BRjob queue. Upon removing a sub-job from a BR job queue it signalselement 150 which decides if the deleted job is the top job in therespective BR job queue. If it was at the top of the queue then element152 determines if there are any sub-jobs left in the respective queue.If there are sub-jobs remaining, then element 154 moves the next sub-jobto the top of the queue. Element 154 then signals element 156 to deletethe aborting sub-job from the BR job queue. If the aborting BR sub-jobwas not first in the queue then element 150 signals element 156 todelete the sub-job from BR job queue. If the aborting BR sub-job wasfirst in the queue but there are no other jobs left in the queue thenelement 152 signals element 156 to delete the sub-job from the BR jobqueue. After the last BR sub-job for the aborting BJS sub job is removedfrom the BR job queue of the database 115 a signal is sent by element158 to the reset queues portion 160 of the JCM 112.

Referring to FIG. 11 the reset queues portion 160 of the JCM 112 isshown in greater detail. When the last basic resource of the abortingsub-job is deleted from the respective BR job queues then element 158 ofthe portion 159 of the JCM 112 which determines remaining jobs after ajob is aborted, signals element 162 which identifies each sub-job in theCR job queue in database 114. Element 164 then determines the state ofeach of the sub-jobs in the CR job queue and signals element 166 whichthen determines if the new state is the same as the old. If it is, thenelement 168 determines if the sub job is the last job in the CR jobqueue. If it is not the last job, then the JCM 112 walks through all theremaining sub-jobs in the CR job queue by sending a signal from element168 back to element 166 to repeat the cycle. If it is the last job inthe CR job queue then element 168 signals element 170 to call a“SubJobComplete” and exit at 172.

If element 166 determines that the new state is not the same as the oldstate then it signals element 174 which sets the CJR's state to the newstate. Element 174 signals element 176 which determines if the new stateis “bjsActive”. If the new state is “bjsActive then element 178 sets allcorresponding BJR states to “bjsActive”. If element 178 sets all BJRstates to “bjsActive” then it signals element 168 which determines ifthe sub job is the last job in the CR job queue. If it is, element 170is signaled to call “SubJobComplete” and exit at 172. If element 176determines that the new state is not “bjsActive” then it signals element168 which will recycle it since it is not the last item in the queue.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13 the architecture of a preferredembodiment of the process and apparatus of this invention, for managingcontention for a system's resources among multiple sub-jobs, using. FIFOand/or job based priority will now be described in detail. In thispreferred embodiment of the invention, access to resources is managedwith a “Key Operator/System Administrator (“KO/SA”) defined algorithmsimilar to that described in the Salgado Application. With thisalgorithm, the KO/SA can arrange to have jobs defined according to jobtype, immediate walkup need, history of interruptions and other relevantfactors. The algorithm can be configured to manage job contention inaccordance with the desires of a typical printing system user. Since itis flexibly programmable, the algorithm can be made to accommodate forFIFO. In other words, FIFO is a subset of the capabilities of thisalgorithm. This invention prioritizes at the level of the basicresources thereby providing more efficient use of those resources.

In FIGS. 12, 13, 14A and 14B many common elements from the previouslydisclosed embodiment of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 have been given correspondingreference numbers and have the same function as described heretofore.FIG. 12 shows the portion of the JCM 112A which deals with sub-jobswhich are “Proposed” but are not already in the CR job queue.

Once again when a Basic Job Service 110 is ready to process a sub-job,the BJS 110 calls or signals the JCM 112A with an image “Propose”request as in FIG. 8 for each image it needs to process. The “Propose”request includes the job identifier, its priority information, the videocapability required, and the requesting BJS identification. For example,the Scan BJS needs to scan a copy job (id: 3-1) form the DADH (documenthandler). For each image the scanner needs to input, the Scan BJS 110calls the JCM 112 with a “Propose” (e.g. BJS service: Scan, job: 3-1,job priority: XXX, capability: ScanCompressed, . . . )

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13 a job based priority version of a JobContention Manager (JCM) 112 for managing contention for a system'sresources among multiple sub-jobs is described. On the first requestfrom a BJS 110 for a sub-job, the element 116 determines that thesub-job is not in a capability job service queue in the database 114 andsignals element 118 to that effect. The JCM 112A then creates aCapability Job Resource (CJR) containing the above data. Element 118adds the CJR to the CR's job list or queue in the 10 database 114. TheJCM 112A then walks or scans through the list of basic resources (seeTable 2a and 2b), required for the CR, for each basic resource the CRneeds. This is accomplished by cycling through elements 120, 122 124 and300. For each basic resource the CR needs as determined by element 120 aBasic Job Resource (BJR) is created by element 122 and added to eachbasic resource's job list or queue in database 115.

New element 300 then determines if the sub-job is first in the queue ofthe BR, namely, the highest priority job. If it is not, it signalselement 124. If element 300 determines that the relevant sub-job isfirst in the queue it signals element 302 which determines if there is a“bjsActive” job in the respective queue. If there is not such a“bjsActive” job then element 302 signals element 124. If element 302determines that there is a “bjsActive” job in the respective queue thenit signals element 304 to set all “bjsActive” jobs to “bjsSuspending”and notifies element 306 to set the CJR parent of the suspending BJR to“bjsSuspending”. Element 306 then signals element 124. If the lastcomponent BJR has been added then element 124 signals element 126 whichdetermines if the CJR has acquired all the BJR's it needs to carry outthe sub-job.

Elements 300-306 serve to allow a higher priority job (as determined bythe SA/KO algorithm) to suspend an active job until the higher priorityjob is completed. When a new sub-job request results in the need tosuspend another sub-job's request, the JCM 112A sets the existingsub-job's CJR's state to “cjsSuspending”. Upon the next Propose for thesuspending sub-job, the JCM transitions the basic resources from thesuspending sub-job to the acquiring sub-job. The BJS that Proposed forthe suspending sub-job receives a “NoAccept” from the JCM 112A. When aBJS has completed its processing of a sub-job, it notifies the JCM 112via a “SubJobCompleted”. On receiving a “SubJobCompleted”, the JCM 112deletes the sub-job's information (CJRs and BJRs). For each BJRcomponent used by the sub-job, the JCM 112 assigns the basic resource tothe next sub-job in the BR's job queue (the state initially goes to‘bjsActive’). The JCM 112 then recalculates the state of these BJR'sparent CJRs. If the BJS has Proposed for resources, the BJS also calls“SubJobCompleted” when the job is deleted by the user or terminated bythe system.

At this point, the JCM 112A needs to determine the overall state of theBJS' “Propose” request (in this invention, it is the state of the CJR).If all its component BJR's are “bjsActive” as determined by element 126then element 128 sets all BJR's states to “bjsActive”. Element 130 thensets the CJR's state to “cjsActive”. The JCM 112A at 132 then forwardsthe BJS Propose to the component basic services (Video 111) forprocessing. Video 111 processes the request as normal and sends anAccept to the BJS via the JCM.

As noted above for each added BJR, the JCM 112 determines the state ofthe Basic Job Resource. If the BJR is the highest priority job withinthe basic resource's job list (top of the queue), the state is“bjsActive” if no other “bjsActive” BJR is in the list. If there isanother “bjsActive” BJR, then the added Basic Job Resource's state is“bjsAcquiring”. If the added Basic Job Resource is not at the top of thequeue, then the state is “bjsQueued”. If the BJS' component BJRs have acombination of “bjsActive” and “bjsAcquiring” states, the CJR's state is“cjsAcquiring”. Otherwise, the CJR's state is “cjsQueued”. The JCM 112then updates all of the CJR's respective BJRs to reflect the overallstate. In other words, if the Capability Job Resource's (CJR's) state is“cjsQueued”, all component Basic Job Resource's (BJR's) states are setto “bjsQueued”.

If the element 126 determines that the CJR has not acquired all theBJR's it needs since its state is “cjsAcquiring” or cjsQueued” then itnotifies element 308 which determines if the sub-job is acquiring allthe basic resources it needs. If it determines that the CJR is notacquiring all the BJR's it needs then element 310 sets the CJR to“bjsQueued” and the JCM 112A returns a “NoAccept” to the proposing BJS.If element 308 determines that the CJR's state is “bjsAcquiring” itsignals element 136 to return a “NoAccept” to the BJS. As in theprevious embodiment the BJS after receiving a “No Accept” will proposeagain at a later time based on a timing signal.

If element 116 of FIG. 12 determines that the sub-job is already in theCR queue then part A of the JCM 112 signals element 138 in part B of JCM112 which determines if the job state of the CJR is “cjsActive”. If itis, it notifies element 140 and the JCM 112B then forwards the BJSPropose to the component basic services (Video 111) for processing.Video 111 processes the request as normal and sends an Accept to the BJSvia the JCM. The BJS sends a SubJobComplete to the JCM which deletes thesub-job from the BR and CR job queues at 314. On the other hand ifelement 138 determines that the job state of the CJR is not active thenit signals element 144 which determines if the sub-job state is“cjsQueuedHalted”. If it is, then element 144 signals element 316 todelete the sub-job request and element 146 returns a “NoAcceptHalt”.

If element 144 determines that the job state is not “cjsQueuedHalted” itsignals element 318 which determines if the job state is“cjsSuspending”. If it is, it signals element 320 which determines if itis the first band of the image. If it is not the first band of the imagethen element 320 signals element 140 and the JCM 112B then forwards theBJS Propose to the component basic services (Video 111) for processing.Video 111 processes the request as normal and sends an Accept to the BJSvia the JCM. The BJS sends a “SubJobComplete” to the JCM, which deletesthe sub-job from the BR and CR job queues at 314.

This ensures that contention for a shared resource as describedheretofore does not affect the integrity of an image that is beingprocessed by that resource in multiple bands. In such a case, the basicresource is not freed until the processing of all parts of the image arecompleted. A multiple banded image which is being processed inaccordance with this invention is completed before resources aretransferred to a higher priority job. A multiple banded image takes along time to process so one does not want to lose the processing whichhas already taken place if at least the first band has been transferred.

To enable multiple banded images the BJS 110 sends a “Propose” requestfor each band in the multiple banded image sub-job. The “Propose”request includes, in addition to the previously describes information,the band number and the total band count for the image. A single bandimage would have a band number and a band count equal to 1. If themultiple banded image sub-job is the highest priority sub-job the JCMforwards the “Propose” to video 111. Video 111 sends an Accept to theBJS 110 via the JCM for each image band 37 Propose”.

Referring to FIG. 15 the “Propose” from the JCM 112 is forwarded toelement 500 which determines if the image band sub-job is the last imageband in the image sub-job. If it is then element 500 signals element 502which merges all the bands into a single image for further processing,for example, by the mark capability. Video 111 then signals an“ImageComplete” at 504 to the JCM 112 which forwards it to the BJS 110.If the image band is not the last band in the image then it signals theJCM 112 via element 506 with an “Accept” when it receives the Proposefor the next band of the image.

If another BJS 110 requests resources for a higher priority sub-job thanthe multiple banded image sub-job that requires the basic resources usedby the banded image sub-job the JCM 112 needs to transfer the resourcesto the higher priority sub-job. To guarantee image integrity, the JCM112 leaves those basic resources with the banded image sub-job until itreceives a “Propose” for the first band of the image.

The next time the banded image sub-job “Proposes” for a first band ofthe image, the JCM 112 transfers the basic resources to the higherpriority sub-job as follows. If element 320 (FIG. 13) determines thatthe sub-job is the first band of the image then it signals element 322to set the CJR state to “cjsQueuedHalted” which in turn causes element324 to set the component BJR's to “bjsQueued”. Element 326 then deletesthe job request and the JCM returns a “NoAcceptHalt” at 328 to the BJS110. The next time the higher priority job proposes the JCM 112 forwardsthe request to video 111 and subsequently an “Accept” is sent to thehigher priority sub-job's BJS 110. When the higher priority sub-job iscompleted, the BJS issues a “SubJobCompleted” to the JCM 112 which thenassigns the basic resources again to the multiple banded image sub-job.

Accordingly this invention enables assignment and processing of basicresources per image band, transfer of basic resources from a multiplebanded image sub-job on an image boundary and merging of multiple bandedimages back into a single image.

If element 318 determines that the sub-job is not suspending it notifieselement 330 which determines the CJR's new state. Element 332 then setsthe CJR to the new state which is forwarded to element 334 whichdetermines if the new state is “cjsActive”. If it is, then element 336sets the component BJR's to “bjsActive”. The JCM 112B at 338 thenforwards the BJS' Propose to the component basic services (Video 111)for processing. Video 111 processes the request as normal and sends anAccept to the BJS 110 via the JCM. Upon completion of the sub-job theBJS 110 signals the JCM, “SubJobComplete” and element 340 deletes thejob request from the CR and BR job queues.

If element 334 determines that the new state is not “cjsActive” itnotifies element 342 which determines if the new state is“cjsQueuedHalted”. If it is, then element 344 deletes the job requestand the JCM 112B returns a “NoAcceptHalt” to the BJS 110 at element 346.If the new state is not “cjsQueuedHalted” then element 342 notifieselement 348 which then forwards the BJS' “Propose” to the componentbasic services (Video 111) for processing. Video 111 processes therequest as normal and sends an Accept to the BJS 110 via the JCM 112.Upon completion of the sub-job the BJS 110 signals the JCM“SubJobComplete” and element 350 deletes the job request from the CR andBR job queues.

Referring now to FIG. 14A the portion of the Job Contention Manager 112associated with deleting a sub-job in the job based priority alternativeis shown. If the operator of the Multi-Function Printer wishes to deletea job, he or she enters the delete or abort command at the External JobService. The abort signal is fed to element 360 of the JCM 112 todetermine if the job is in a CR job queue of the database 114. If it isnot, then element 362 causes the inquiry to terminate by exiting the JCM112.

On the other hand if the aborting job is in the CR job queue thenelement 364 removes it from the Capability Resource queue in thedatabase 114. Element 366 then searches for each Basic Job Resourcewhich was needed by the aborting CJR. The JCM 112 then walks througheach such BJR and removes the aborting sub-job from each respective BRjob queue. This is accomplished by elements 368 through 380 of the JCM112. Element 368 removes the aborting sub-job from each succeeding BRjob queue. Upon removing a sub-job from a BR job queue it signalselement 370 which decides if the deleted job is the top job in therespective BR job queue. If it was at the top of the queue, then element372 determines if there are any sub-jobs left in the respective queue.If there are sub-jobs remaining, then element 374 determines if the newtop job is “bjsActive”. If it is not, then element 376 moves the nextsub-job to the top of the queue. Element 376 then signals element 378 todelete the aborting sub-job from the BR job queue.

If the aborting BJR sub-job was hot first in the queue, then element 370signals element 378 to delete the sub-job from BR job queue. If theaborting BJR sub-job was first in the queue but there are no other jobsleft in the queue, then element 372 signals element 378 to delete thesub-job from the BR job queue. If the aborting BJR sub-job was first inthe queue and there are others sub-jobs left in the queue and element374 determines that the new top sub-job is “bjsActive”, then it signalselement 378 to delete the aborting sub-job from the BR job queue.

After the last BJR sub-job for the aborting BJS sub-job is removed fromthe BR job queue of the database 115 a signal is sent by element 380 tothe reset queues portion 112B of the JCM 112. When the last basicresource of the aborting sub-job is deleted from the respective BR jobqueues then element 380 of the portion 112A of the JCM 112 signalselement 382 (FIG. 14B) which identifies each sub-job remaining in the CRjob queue in database 114. Element 384 then determines the state of eachof the sub-jobs in the CR job queue and signals element 386, which thendetermines if the new state is the same as the old. If it is, thenelement 388 determines if the sub job is the last job in the CR jobqueue. If it is not the last job, then the JCM 112 walks through all theremaining sub-jobs in the CR job queue by sending a signal from element388 back to element 386 to repeat the cycle. If it is the last job inthe CR job queue, then element 388 signals element 390 to delete theCJR. Element 400 then calls a “SubJobComplete” and exits the JCM at 402.

If element 386 determines that the new state is not the same as the oldstate then it signals element 404 which sets the CJR's state to the newstate. Element 404 signals element 406 which determines if the new stateis “cjsActive”. If the new state is “cjsActive then element 408 sets allbasic job states to “bjsActive”. If the new state is not “cjsActive”then element 410 determines if the new state is “cjsAcquiring”. If it isthen element 412 determines if the old state of the CJR was“cjsQueuedHalted”. If it was, then element 414 calls the client toremove the halt (i.e. Propose again). If element 408 sets all BJR statesto “bjsActive” then it signals element 412 which determines if the oldstate was “bjsQueuedHalted”. If it was, then element 414 calls theclient to remove the halt (i.e. Propose again).

Element 414 or element 412 if the old state is not “cjsQueuedHalted” orelement 410 if the new state is not “cjsAcquiring” signal element 388which determines if the sub job is the last job in the CR job queue. Ifit is not the last job, then the JCM 112 walks through all the remainingsub-jobs in the CR job queue by sending a signal from element 388 backto element 386 to repeat the cycle. If it is the last job in the CR jobqueue then element 388 signals element 390 to delete the CJR. Element400 then calls a “SubJobComplete” and then exits the JCM at 402.

The method and apparatus for prioritizing the use of a Multi-FunctionalPrinter may employ any desired number of capabilities. Those set forthabove are only by way of example. The following table illustrates by wayof a further example a wider range of capabilities than heretoforedescribed which could be employed, however, additional capabilities asdesired could also be employed.

TABLE 3 Capabilities CAPABILITY RESOURCES BASIC JOB RESOURCESEssBandRes- compressor Loopback IPS1 Conversion channel EssBandNoRes-compressor Loopback Conversion channel EssBand- compressor LoopbackBusGate channel IIInternalImage- Input channel IPS1 FirstOriginalIIInternalImage Input channel IPS1 IInullImage Input channel IPS1IPBlankImage compressor decompressor Input channel Output channelLoopback channel IPCompression compressor decompressor Input channelOutput channel Loopback channel IPDecompression compressor decompressorInput channel Output channel Loopback channel IPImageRepeat compressordecompressor Input channel Output channel Loopback channel IPNUpImagecompressor decompressor Input channel Output channel Loopback channelIPRotation compressor decompressor Input channel Output channel Loopbackchannel IPCreateText compressor decompressor Input channel Outputchannel Loopback channel IPDiskText compressor decompressor Inputchannel Output channel Loopback channel IpAnnotation compressordecompressor Input channel Output channel Loopback channel PGOriginaldecompressor Output channel ScanOriginal compressor Input channel IPS1PreScan IPS1 ScanToFile Output channel MarkOutput decompressor Outputchannel

The method and apparatus for prioritizing the use of a Multi-FunctionalPrinter of this invention provides a significant improvement over theprior art approaches by extending the queuing process down to the levelof the basic resources for carrying out the sub-job. This allows basicresources to be reallocated to other sub-jobs as soon as the basicresource is available rather than having to wait for a basic job serviceto complete its operation as in previous machines. For an MFP withshared basic resources this provides better thruput since the basicshared video resources of the printer can carry out multiple sub-jobswhen there is no contention at the level of the basic resources.

In order to better illustrate the improved performance of the presentinvention the following example is provided. The contention algorithm is“priority based”. In this example, copy jobs have a priority 8 and printjobs have a priority 5. Thus, copy jobs are higher priority than printjobs. Note: jobs can begin outputting after 4 images have inputted.

First a user sends a print job to the system. A print job PJ1 is enteredat the EJS, having a priority of 5. The External Job Service divides thePrint Job 1 into EssInput and Mark sub-jobs. For this job, the EssInputService requires the EssBandResConversion capability that uses the IPS1,Compressor, and Loopback Channel basic resources. The Mark Servicerequires the “MarkOutput” capability that uses the Output Channel andDecompressor basic resources. PJ1's first image is a multi-banded imagethat consists of 2 bands. The BJS 110 sends the JCM 112 a “Propose” forthe EssInput sub-job PJ1 for the capability “EssBandResConversion” forthe first band. The JCM 112 enters the PJ1 sub-job in theEssBandResConversion CR job queue.

CAPABILITY ESSBANDRESCON- RESOURCE SCANORIGINAL VERSION QUEUE Job: PJIPOSITION 1 Service: essInput Band 1 of 2 QUEUE POSITION 2 QUEUE POSITION3

The JCM 112 then enters the PJ1 sub-job in the BR IPS1, Compressor, andLoopback Channel. Because the capability sub-job acquires its resources,its state is active.

BASIC JOB COM- LOOPBACK RESOURCE PRESSOR CHANNEL IPS1 QUEUE Job: PJ1Job: PJI Job: PJI POSITION 1 Service: Service: essInput Service:essInput Capability: essInput Capability: EssBandRes- Capability:EssBandRes- Conversion EssBandRes- Conversion State: active ConversionState: active Band: 1 of 2 State: active Band: 1 of 2 Band: 1 of 2 QUEUEPOSITION 2 QUEUE POSITION 3

A user comes to the device, places originals in the document handler,and runs a copy job.

Copy Job 1, having a priority 8, is entered at the EJS. The External JobService divides the Copy Job 1 into Scan and Marking sub-jobs. The ScanService requires the “ScanOriginal” capability that uses the Compressor,IPS1, and Input Channel basic resources. The Mark service requires the“MarkOutput” capability that uses the Output Channel and Decompressorbasic resources. The BJS 110 sends the JCM 112 a “Propose” for the scansub-job CJ1 for capability “ScanOriginal”. The JCM 112 enters the CJ1sub-job in the “ScanOriginal” CR job queue as the top job.

CAPABILITY ESSBANDRESCON- RESOURCE SCANORIGINAL VERSION QUEUE Job: CJIJob: PJI POSITION 1 Service: scan Service: essInput Band: 1 of 2 QUEUEPOSITION 2 QUEUE POSITION 3

The JCM 112 then enters the scan service's CJ1 sub-job in theCompressor, IPS1 and Input Channel BR job queues. Since a copy job ishigher priority than a print job, the ScanOriginal subjob is placedahead of the EssBandResConversion subjob. The EssBandResConversionsubjob's basic resources are set to “suspending”.

LOOPBACK BR COMPRESSOR INPUT CHANNEL IPS1 CHANNEL Q1 Job: CJ1 Job: CJIJob: CJ1 Job: PJI Service: scan Service: scan Service: scan Service:Capability: Capability: Capability: essInput ScanOriginal ScanOriginalScanOriginal Capability: State: queued State: queued State: EssBandRes-queued Conversion State: suspending Band: 1 of 2 Q2 Job: PJ1 Job: PJ1Service: Service: essInput essInput Cap: Cap: EssBandRes- EssBandRes-Conversion Conversion State: State: suspending suspending Band: 1 of 2Band: 1 of 2 Q3

The EssInput Service 110 sends the JCM 112 a “Propose” for the EssInputsub-job PJ1 for the capability “EssBandResConversion” for the firstimage's second (and final) band. Since this Propose is for a non-firstband, the Propose is forwarded to Video.

When the first image is completed by Video 111, the EssInput processesthe job's second image. The second image is also a multi-banded imagethat consists of 2 bands. The EssInput Service 110 sends the JCM 112 a“Propose” for the EssInput sub-job PJ1 for the capability“EssBandResConversion” for the second image's first band. The JCM nowtransitions the resources to the ScanOriginal subjob whose state is setto active. The EssBandResConversion subjob's basic resources are set tothe “queuedHalted” state.

INPUT LOOPBACK BR COMPRESSOR CHANNEL IPS1 CHANNEL Q1 Job: CJI Job: CJ1Job: CJI Job: PJ1 Service: scan Service: scan Service: scan Service:essInput Capability: Capability: Capability: Capability: ScanOriginalScanOriginal ScanOriginal EssBandRes- State: active State: active State:active Conversion State: queuedHalted Band: 1 of 2 Q2 Job: PJ1 Job: PJ1Service: Service: essInput essInput Capability: Capability:EssBandResCon- EssBandRes- version Conversion State: State: queuedHaltedqueuedHalted Band: 1 of 2 Band: 1 of 2 Q3

The aforenoted algorithms as embodied in FIGS. 8-15 can be carried outby any desired computer processing and MFP hardware which includessoftware to carry out the functions as described in these Figures.

While the invention has been described with respect to two levels ofqueued resources, namely, CRs and BRs, it may include any desired numberof levels of queued resources and corresponding data base levels. Forexample, it may be possible to further break down the BRs into a sub BRlevel or levels in an effort to gain increased productivity.

The terms Propose, Accept, NoAccept, NoAcceptHalt, SubJobComplete, ImageComplete, as used herein generally refer to a signal or software requestor software notification and the terms Active, Queued, queuedHalted,suspending, refer to states of a sub-job or a propose. These terms areused in a generic sense and other terms could be used in their place asdesired as a name for their function and use.

The term ESS as used herein refers to an electronic subsystem used fornetwork connectivity and decomposition of images. The term SCS as usedherein refers to the strategic control system which is the digitalcopier control platform. They are part of the electronic system of theMFP.

The names used for capabilities in Table 3 are provided for convenienceand any desired name could be used as the name of a capability.Generally the capabilities in Table 3 are just abbreviations for thecapability's descriptive name. Some of the names may not be as intuitiveas others, and therefore in Table 4 there are provided briefdescriptions of the capabilities of Table 3.

TABLE 4 CAPABILITY RESOURCES Description EssBandRes- Transfer of networkimage that requires the resolution Conversion to be modified.EsscBandNoRes- Transfer of network image that doesn't require resolu-Conversion tion modification. EssBand- Transfer of a network Image(without compressing BusGate image). IIInternalImage- Prepare forgeneration of test pattern images. FirstOriginal IIInternalImageGenerate test pattern images. IInullImage Generate a blank test pattern.IPBlankImage Generate a white image. IPCompression Compress an image.IPDecompression Decompress an image. IPImageRepeat Produce a m x npattern of a single image. IPNUpImage Produce a m x n pattern of mnimages. IPRotation Rotate image. IPCreateText Add text to an image inmemory. IPDiskText Add text to an image on disk. IPAnnotation Annotate 2images together. PGOriginal Create an image from text. ScanOriginal Scanan original into EPC. PreScan Pre-scan an original. ScanToFile Transferan image to the ESS for sending across the network. MarkOutput Mark animage.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is onlyillustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modificationscan be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intendedto embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for prioritizing the use of amultifunctional printing system's basic processing resources formultiple banded images, said system employing a controller with a jobcontention manager (JCM), said method comprising: providing a pluralityof basic resources of the printing system with each of said basicresources having a job queue; one or more job services, at a desiredtime, sending a signal to said JCM to transfer a band of a multiplebanded image sub-job of a given job, said signal, for each of saidbands, including information about the respective sub-job's priority,the band number and total band count for the image; responsive to saidsignal, said JCM adding a corresponding basic job resource sub-job tothe queues of each basic resource which said sub-job will require inorder to perform the sub-job; said sub-job being processed, when saidsub-job is at the top of all the queues, of all the basic resources,required to perform the respective sub-job; and determining when thelast band of an image has been transferred and responsive theretomerging the bands into a single image, wherein, said signal comprises asub-job “Propose” for one of said bands of said multiple banded image,from said job service to the JCM and wherein said JCM determines thestate of said one of said bands sub-job upon receiving the “Propose”,such that if said one of said bands sub-job is at the top of all thebasic resource job queues its state is “Active”, and if said state is“Active” said JCM forwards an “Accept” to said job service so that saidone of said bands sub-job is transferred from said job service, and thensaid job service generates a new “Propose” for an additional one of saidbands sub-job until the last band of said image is transferred.
 2. Amethod as in claim 1 wherein, said sub-jobs are placed in said queues ofsaid basic resources in the order of their priority.
 3. A method as inclaim 1 wherein said JCM receives a “Propose” from a one of said jobservices for a second sub-job and said JCM places said second sub-job inthe queues of each basic resource which said second sub-job will requirefor its performance, said second sub-job being placed in said queuesaccording to its priority relative to other sub-jobs in said queues. 4.A method as in claim 3 wherein, if said one of said bands of saidmultiple band image sub-job state is “Active” and said second sub-jobhas a higher priority than said multiple banded image sub-job, then ifsaid image band “Propose” is for the first band of the image, the stateof said first band sub-job is changed to “Suspending”, so that saidfirst band sub-job is halted and the state of said second sub-job is setto “Active” so that said second sub job is processed by said basicresource prior to said first band sub-job.
 5. A method as in claim 3wherein, if said one of said bands of said multiple band image sub-jobstate is “Active” and said second sub-job has a higher priority thansaid band image sub-job, then if said image band “Propose” is for a bandother than the first band of said image, the band image sub-job retainsits Active” state until the last band of said image is transferred.
 6. Aresource based method of managing the processing of a plurality of jobsin a multifunctional printing system in which at least one multiplebanded image job is inputted for processing at one or more job services,said system including a controller with a job contention manager (JCM)for prioritizing the use of the printing system's basic processingresources, said method comprising: including in at least a first levelof a database a plurality of capability resources associated withsub-jobs of said one or more job services and including in at least asecond level of said database a plurality of basic resources of theprinting system, with each capability resource containing a list of thebasic resources it needs to carry out its capability and each basicresource containing a list of the capability resources that depend uponit; each capability resource and each basic resource including a sub-jobqueue; at least one of said respective job services, at a desired time,sending a signal to said JCM to transfer a band of a multiple bandedimage sub-job, said signal for each of said bands including informationabout the sub-job priority, the band number and total band count;responsive to said signal, said JCM creating for each band received fromthe job service a respective capability job resource containing saidinformation, and adding each such capability job resource, based onpriority, to the respective capability resource job queue; responsive tostep (d) said JCM adding for each capability job resource, componentbasic job resources to the queues of each basic resource which arespective capability job resource will require; said one of said bandsimage sub-job being processed, when said one of said bands image sub-jobis at the top of all the queues, of all the basic resources, required toperform the respective sub-job; and determining when the last band ofthe image has been transferred and responsive thereto merging the imagebands into a single image, wherein, said signal comprises a sub-job“Propose” for one of said bands of said multiple banded image, from saidjob service to the JCM and wherein said JCM determines the state of saidone of said bands sub-job upon receiving the “Propose”, such that ifsaid one of said bands sub-job is at the top of all the basic resourcejob queues its state is “Active”, and if said state is “Active” said JCMforwards an “Accept” to said job service so that said one of said bandssub-job is transferred from said job service, and then said job servicegenerates a new “Propose” for an additional one of said bands sub-jobuntil the last band of said image is transferred.
 7. A method as inclaim 6 wherein, said sub-jobs are placed in said queues of said basicresources in the order of their priority.
 8. A method as in claim 6wherein said JCM receives a “Propose” from a one of said job servicesfor a second sub-job and said JCM places said second sub-job in thequeues of each basic resource which said second sub-job will require forits performance, said second sub-job being placed in said queuesaccording to its priority relative to other sub-jobs in said queues. 9.A method as in claim 8 wherein, if said one of said bands of saidmultiple band image sub-job state is “Active” and said second sub-jobhas a higher priority than said multiple banded image sub-job, then ifsaid image band “Propose” is for the first band of the image the stateof said first band sub-job is changed to “Suspending”, so that saidfirst band sub-job is halted and the state of said second sub-job is setto “Active” so that said second sub job is processed by said basicresource prior to said first band sub-job.
 10. A method as in claim 9wherein, if said one of said bands of said multiple band image sub-jobstate is “Active” and said second sub-job has a higher priority thansaid multiple banded image sub-job, then if said image band “Propose” isfor a band other than the first band of said image, the multiple bandedimage sub-job retains its “Active” state until the last band of saidimage is transferred.
 11. An apparatus for prioritizing the use ofmultifunctional printing system's basic processing resources formultiple banded images, comprising: a controller with a job contentionmanager (JCM); a plurality of basic resources of the printing systemwith each of said basic resources having a job queue; means for one ormore job services, at a desired time, sending a signal to said JCM totransfer a multiple banded image sub-job of a given job, said signal,for each of said bands, including information about the respectivesub-job's priority, the band number and total band count for the image;means responsive to said signal, for said JCM to add a correspondingbasic job resource sub-job to the queues of each basic resource whichsaid sub-job will require in order to perform the sub-job; means forprocessing said sub-job, when said sub-job is at the top of all thequeues, of all the basic resources, required to perform the respectivesub-job and; means for determining when the last band of an image hasbeen transferred and responsive thereto merging the bands into a singleimage, wherein, said signal comprises a sub-job “Propose” for one ofsaid bands of said multiple band image, from said job service to the JCMand wherein said JCM includes means for determining the state of the oneof said one of said bands sub-job upon receiving the “Propose”, suchthat if a first sub job is the one of said bands sub-job that is in andat the top of all the basic resource job queues, its state is “Active”as a result of being in and at the top of all the basic resource jobqueues, and said JCM including means for determining if said state is“Active” and responsive thereto for forwarding an “Accept” to said jobservice so that said first sub-job is transferred, and then said jobservice generates a new “Propose” for an additional one of said bandssub-job until the last band of said image is transferred.
 12. Anapparatus as in claim 11 including, means for placing said sub-jobs insaid queues of said basic resources in the order of their priority. 13.An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said JCM includes means forreceiving a “Propose” from a one of said job services for a secondsub-job and means for placing said second sub-job in the job queues ofeach basic resource which said second sub-job will require for itsperformance, and means for placing said second sub-job in said queuesaccording to its priority relative to other sub-jobs in said queues. 14.An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein, said JCM includes: means fordetermining if said multiple band image sub-job state is “Active” andmeans for determining if said second sub-job has a higher priority thansaid first sub-job, and if said second sub-job has such a higherpriority, further including means for determining if said image band“Propose” is for the first band of said image, and responsive todetermining that it is the first band, means for changing said multipleband sub-job's state to “Suspending”, so that said first band sub-job ishalted, and means for setting the state of the second sub-job to“Active” so that said second sub job is processed by said basic resourceprior to said first band sub-job.
 15. An apparatus as in claim 13wherein said JCM includes: means for determining if said one of saidbands sub-job is “Active” and if said second sub-job has a higherpriority than said one of said bands sub-job, and means for determiningif said image band “Propose” is for a band other than the first band ofsaid image, and means responsive to determining that said one of saidbands sub-job is not for said first band of said image, for maintainingsaid multiple banded image sub-job in an “Active” state until the lastband of said image is transferred.
 16. An apparatus for managing theprocessing of a plurality of jobs in a multifunctional printing systemin which at least one multiple banded image job is inputted forprocessing at one or more job services, said apparatus comprising: acontroller with a job contention manager (JCM) for prioritizing the useof the printing system's basic processing resources a database includingin at least a first level a plurality of capability resources associatedwith sub-jobs of said one or more job services and including in at leasta second level a plurality of basic resources of the printing system,with each capability resource containing a list of the basic resourcesit needs to carry out its capability and each basic resource containinga list of the capability resources that depend upon it; each capabilityresource and each basic resource including a sub-job queue; means for atleast one of said job services, at a desired time, to send a signal tosaid JCM to transfer at least one of said bands of a multiple bandedimage sub-job, said signal for each of said bands including informationabout the respective sub-job's priority, the band number and total bandcount; said JCM including means responsive to said signal for creatingfor each sub-job received from a job service a respective capabilityresource containing said information, and adding each such capabilityresource, based on priority, to the respective capability resource jobqueue; said JCM including means responsive to said creation of saidcapability resource for adding for each capability resource, componentbasic resources to the job queues of each basic resource which arespective capability resource will require; means for processing saidsub-job, when said sub-job is at the top of all the queues, of all thebasic resources, required to perform the respective sub-job and; meansfor determining when the last band of an image has been transferred andresponsive thereto for merging the bands into a single image, wherein,said signal comprises a sub-job “Propose” for one of said bands of saidmultiple band image, from said job service to the JCM and wherein saidJCM includes means for determining the state of the one of said bandssub-job upon receiving the “Propose”, such that if a first sub job isthe one of said bands sub-job that is in and at the top of all the basicresource job queues, its state is “Active” as a result of being in andat the top of all the basic resource job queues, and said JCM includingmeans for determining if said state is “Active” and responsive theretofor forwarding an “Accept” to said job service so that said firstsub-job is transferred, and then said job service generates a new“Propose” for an additional one of said bands sub-job until the lastband of said image is transferred.
 17. An apparatus as in claim 16including, means for placing said sub-jobs in said queues of said basicresources in the order of their priority.
 18. An apparatus as in claim16 wherein said JCM includes means for receiving a “Propose” from a oneof said job services for a second sub-job and means for placing saidsecond sub-job in the job queues of each basic resource which saidsecond sub-job will require for its performance, and means for placingsaid second sub-job in said queues according to its priority relative toother sub-jobs in said queues.
 19. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein,said JCM includes: means for determining if said multiple band imagesub-job state is “Active” and means for determining if said secondsub-job has a higher priority than said one of said band image sub-job,and if said second sub-job has such a higher priority, further includingmeans for determining if said image band “Propose” is for the first bandof said image, and responsive to determining that it is the first band,means for changing said multiple band sub-job's state to “Suspending”,so that said first band sub-job is halted, and means for setting thestate of the second sub-job to “Active” so that said second sub job isprocessed by said basic resource prior to said first band sub-job. 20.An apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said JCM includes: means fordetermining if said one of said bands sub-job is “Active” and if saidsecond sub-job has a higher priority than said one of said bandssub-job, and means for determining if said image band “Propose” is for aband other than the first band of said image, and means responsive todetermining that said one of said bands sub-job is not for said firstband of said image, for maintaining said multiple banded image sub-jobin an “Active” state until the last band of said image is transferred.